McNeil Canyon among state finalists for STEAM award

Homer's McNeil Canyon Elementary is among a list of state finalists in the "Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest." McNeil Canyon was among five Alaska schools nominated for the $2 million award, joining North Pole Middle School, Mirror Lake Middle School and Tanana Middle School in a group of 255 schools nationally.

STEAM is a program that encourages students to solve real-world issues in their community using classroom skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM).

The state finalists were chosen based on their creative and strategic proposals to solve complicated issues that affect their communities by using STEAM learning. All 255 state finalists will receive a Samsung Chromebook for their classrooms, and have the opportunity to advance in the competition for additional prizes and educational opportunities.

With $2 million in technology on the line?teachers from the state-finalist schools will submit an activity plan outlining how students will tackle the local issue using STEAM skills to ultimately improve the greater community.

According to the contest rules, the eventual state winners will submit a video of their project in action. For achieving state-winner status, 41 of those schools will receive a $25,000 Samsung technology package, including a Samsung video kit to produce their video. The other 10 will progress to the national finalist stage.

Those advancing to the national level will attend a "Pitch event" where they will pitch their project to a panel of judges. For achieving national finalist status, seven schools will receive a $50,000 Samsung technology package. The other three will progress to the national winner stage, where they will compete for three national winners. The three winners will receive a $150,000 Samsung technology package.

Additionally, all of the 10 national finalists will receive the Community Choice Award and be eligible to win an additional $20,000 Samsung technology package based on social media voting.